Met up with Steve as planned at the Fire station in Edgewood on time, then the wife called to say she had found my missing Insurance card for Canada. She was kind enough to meet up with us so I'd have it if necessary. Route today was super-slab to make 12:00 ferry which we just made.
Packed and ready to go, starting point, Supermall in Auburn, WA
Photo courtesy of Debbie
Last ones on ferry, just made it
Jet skier chasing ferries around
Light on point in narrow passage
Another shot of light
Motel at Victoria HarbourView Larger Map
Home to Victoria, BC
End day 1
Day 2, 7/13, Victoria, BC to Tofino, BC
Once out of Victoria, route was good. Lot's of great scenery and roads. Probably the unique part of this day was Coombs, BC which is a real attraction with many small shops, all with sod roofs where several Goats make home. The road into Tofino is great, scenic with some gradual sweepers along with some tight ones going through coastal range before dropping to beach area.
The Bastian
Crazy fun house in Coombs, BC
Incinerator Rock? At Long Beach Tofino, BC
Another beach shot
Marina somewhere ?
Tofino motel
Cannon in the upper Bastion
Some Totems
This is in Coombs, BC Real gimmick, has goats living on sod covered roof-tops
Big Billy Goat
Smaller, or younger goats
The Goat Hut on roof-top
Another shot of the big guy
Woodpecker that caught my attention as I was eating appleView Larger Map
Victoria, BC to Tofino, BC
End Day 2
Day 3, 7/14, Tofino, BC to Port McNeill
Another great day of riding. Found our route taking us back to the East side of Island and along the coast Hwy North. Beautiful scenery as everywhere so far. Made stop in Sayward where we had a deer cross main street in front of us, unfortunately no picture. The road into and out of Tofino is fantastic although I wouldn't want to be riding it in wet weather. Stopped into Telegraph Cove hoping to get room for night but wasn't promising so we pushed onto Port McNeill.
Mountain line along our route
Bikes along spot we stopped for picture op
Lake ?
Another mountain shot
Steve rolling along
Pub we stopped at in Woss, BC
Logging Mill at Telegraph Cove, just missed getting pic of Big Elk here
Our new friend Alex whom we met in Tofino and caught up with again in Port McNeill. Alex has been on a 5 month holiday throughout Canada & Alaska by both automobile and motorcycle. He's from Germany and owns a Sports Supply outfit. Great guy and interesting to talk with. See you in 4 years Alex!
Motel in Port McNeillView Larger Map
Tofino, BC to Port McNeill, BC
End day 3
Day 4, 7/15, Port McNeill, BC to Lund, BC
Day started foggy out, temps not to bad though. Rode North to Port Hardy expecting to see lots of Bears, unfortunately we saw none, at least not until we had turned around headed for Port Alice. We got rain just before Port Hardy. Rode out to Port Alice was great, nice pavement and some twisties, to bad there isn't another route back out although I'm not complaining.
Morning fog in Port McNeill
Fly fisherman below bridge crossing Marble River
Bear just off Hwy between Port Hardy & Port Alice turn-off
Bear ......
Bear ......
Port Alice welcome sign
Looking North from Port Alice
Visitor at Port Alice
Steve's new friend
Bear at Sayward Junction
Bike Rental & Repair sign
Lake along route
Going fishing from Lund harbour
Lund Hotel
Another Lake shot
Totem
Totem sign
Bear Cove
Port Hardy Welcome sign
Light on point at Port Hardy
Marble RiverView Larger Map
From Port McNeill, BC to Lund, BC
End day 4
Day 5, 7/16, Lund, BC to Vancouver
Woke to what looked like improved weather, started with jackets by Vancouver we were in Tee-shirts and high 80's temps. We traveled the Sunshine Coast today to Vancouver taking 2 ferries. Great ride and scenic, colorful travel, gentle sweepers most the way with gorgeous water travel amongst many islands.
Mark on Boardwalk at the Lund Hotel
Ferry wake
Dueling picture taker
Mountains from the water
Another mountain shot from water
Totem at Powell River
Palm & flowers in Powell River
The flowers
Some make-shift scene where wood carvings were along roadway in Campbell River
Wood carving along water in Campbell River
The "Griffin Pub", great place while waiting for ferry departure
Another ...
Another ...
Another ...
Another ...
Another ...
Another ...
Another ...
Another ...
Slyvia Hotel, Vancouver
Waiting for ferry to unload so we could board
1944 shot of the Yale Hotel, hasn't changed much. Blues entertainmentHQ for Vancouver
Magic Slim, Blues guitarist with band The Teardrops we caught at the Yale Hotel in Vancouver
Sylvia Hotel on water in Vancouver
View of the "Celebration of Lights" barge from our room
Neighborhood shot from hotel room
Mark's turn at keeping watch
Getting set to sail again
View of what lies ahead
Steve got this shot of Tug passing by
Mark going after chips
Steve taking watchView Larger Map
From Lund, BC to Vancouver, BC
End of Day 5
Day 6, 7/17, Vancouver to home
Weather was hot today! Some advise, don't take Hwy 1A out of Vancouver unless your looking for some good Chinese food. To many stop lights and road surface not so great. We goofed at our route and were approaching the Peace Arch border crossing with signage telling us there was a 2 hour wait. We took exit and pulled off to see where we went wrong, a jogger was passing and we stopped him for help. With his help, and suggested route over to Aldergrove crossing, we took "0" avenue which was about 10 miles of country scenery and a definite option to avoid the traffic. Made it to crossing and had no real wait time at all.
At the Aldergrove, BC border crossing headed back into Washington, USA
Beverage stop in Cedarville, WA along Hwy 9
Last stop before home, Carnation, WAView Larger Map
From Vancouver to home
My vote, and I think Steve will agree, Sleeman Brown Honey Lager won out as favorite beverage this ride :)
End of run, great companionship,6 great days and approximately miles
